Monitoring non-supported wireless spectrum within coverage areas of distributed antenna systems (DASS)

ABSTRACT

Monitoring non-supported wireless spectrum within a coverage area of a distributed antenna system (DAS) in which a listening module connected to a remote unit of the DAS monitors non-supported wireless frequencies (i.e., frequencies that are outside the frequency ranges supported by the downlink and uplink signals of the DAS), via one or more antennas. The listening module also transmits the wireless frequencies to a monitoring module connected to head-end equipment (HEE) of the DAS. In that manner, a monitoring module can use an existing DAS infrastructure to monitor non-supported portions of the wireless spectrum at remote locations. In addition to avoiding the need to run a parallel DAS infrastructure, the disclosed arrangements are also useful in shared spectrum environments and other environments where efficient spectrum utilization is desired.

PRIORITY APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/974,007, filedMay 8, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/350,503, filed on Nov. 14, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,967,754, whichis a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/972,149, filed Dec.17, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,526,020, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/948,536, filed on Jul. 23, 2013, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,247,543, the contents of which are relied upon and incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, and the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. § 120 is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates generally to distributed antenna systems (DASs)and more particularly to monitoring non-supported wireless spectrum,which may be used in connection with coverage areas of DASs.

DASs can be used for providing, extending and enhancing wirelesscommunications and other services within a building or otherinstallation. One approach to deploying a DAS involves the use of radiofrequency (RF) antenna coverage areas, also referred to as “antennacoverage areas.” The antenna coverage areas are provided by remote unitsin the DAS. Remote units can provide antenna coverage areas having radiiin the range from a few meters up to twenty (20) meters. If the antennacoverage areas provided each cover a small area, there are typicallyonly a few users (clients) per antenna coverage area. This minimizes theamount of RF bandwidth shared among the wireless system users. It may bedesirable to provide antenna coverage areas in a building or otherfacility to provide indoor DAS access to clients within the facility. Anoptical fiber-based DAS can be used to distribute RF communicationssignals via Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) distribution.

Remote units in a DAS can be configured to distribute RF communicationssignals in multiple radio bands (i.e., frequencies or ranges offrequencies), as opposed to a single radio band. Distributing RFcommunications signals in multiple radio bands in an antenna coveragearea increases flexibility of the DAS. In this scenario, client devicesconfigured to communicate in different radio bands are supported in agiven antenna coverage area provided by the remote unit.

The wireless spectrum within the antenna coverage areas often containwireless signals from other sources and ambient electromagnetic (EM)signals, and in radio bands not supported by the DAS. These EM signalssometimes include supported frequencies used by DAS clients, as well asnon-supported wireless frequencies. It may be desirable to detect andmonitor non-supported environmental frequencies in the remote locationsassociated with the DAS remote units. In addition, some add-onequipment, such as a small-cell module physically located away from theremote unit, receives environmental frequency information as part of itsinitialization and configuration process, for example, to avoidinterference with downlink or other channels of the small cell fromenvironmental and other sources. Thus, it may also be desirable todetect and monitor non-supported wireless frequencies when adding orconfiguring additional equipment connected to the DAS.

No admission is made that any reference cited herein constitutes priorart. Applicant expressly reserves the right to challenge the accuracyand pertinency of any cited documents.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to monitoring non-supportedwireless spectrum within coverage areas of a distributed antenna system(DAS). Related devices and methods are also disclosed. Non-supportedwireless spectrum refers to wireless frequencies that do not correspondto the one or more wireless services of the DAS, and may also bereferred to as out-of-band spectrum. In one embodiment, a listeningmodule connected to a remote unit of the DAS is configured to receiveelectromagnetic signals via an antenna. The listening module isconfigured to pass received non-supported wireless frequencies differentfrom supported frequencies of the DAS to an output of the listeningmodule. In some examples, one or more filters are configured to alsopass the non-supported frequencies, and may be configured to pass one ormore supported frequencies to the output as well. In other examples, theantenna is a broadband antenna configured to pass all frequencies to theoutput. In other examples, the filter(s) are configured to prevent someor all supported frequencies, i.e., frequencies corresponding to the oneor more wireless services of the DAS, from being passed to the output.

In this manner, a monitoring module, such as a module connected tohead-end equipment (HEE) of the DAS, can use an existing DASinfrastructure to monitor portions of the wireless spectrum outside thesupported radio bands of the DAS at one or more remote locations, suchas at one or more remote units of the DAS. In addition to avoiding theneed to run parallel infrastructure to remotely monitor wirelessspectrum throughout an installation, embodiments described herein arealso useful in shared spectrum environments and other environments whereefficient spectrum utilization is desired. The embodiments disclosedherein can provide increased network visibility, network intelligence,and cost savings when integrated into and existing DAS infrastructure.

One embodiment of the disclosure relates to an apparatus connected toone or more of a plurality of remote units of a DAS for monitoringnon-supported wireless spectrum within a coverage area of the DAS. Theapparatus includes at least one antenna configured to receive one ormore electromagnetic (EM) signals and a listening module connected tothe at least one antenna. The listening module comprises at least oneinput configured to receive the electromagnetic signals from the antennaand at least one output configured to transmit the EM signals over atleast one uplink path of the DAS to head-end equipment (HEE). Thelistening module further includes at least one listening path disposedbetween the at least one input and the at least one output andconfigured to pass at least one non-supported radio band different thanthe at least one supported radio band of the DAS to the at least oneoutput.

An additional embodiment of the disclosure relates to a system formonitoring non-supported wireless spectrum within a coverage area of aDAS having HEE and a plurality of remote units. The system comprises aplurality of antennas configured to receive one or more electromagneticsignals, a listening module connected to at least one of the remoteunits connected to at least one of the antennas, and a monitoring moduleconnected to the HEE. The listening module includes at least one inputconfigured to receive the electromagnetic signals from the antenna andat least one output configured to transmit the electromagnetic signalsover at least one uplink path of the DAS. The listening module furtherincludes at least one listening path disposed between the at least oneinput and the at least one output and configured to pass a non-supportedradio band different than a supported radio band of the DAS to the atleast one output. The monitoring module includes at least one inputconfigured to receive the non-supported radio band passed by the filterof the listening module.

An additional embodiment of the disclosure relates to a method ofmonitoring non-supported wireless spectrum within a coverage area of aDAS. The method comprises receiving, at a plurality of antennas, one ormore EM signals and receiving, at a listening module connected to atleast one of a plurality of remote units of the DAS, the one or more EMsignals from at least one of the antennas. The method further comprisespassing the one or more electromagnetic signals in a non-supported radioband different than a supported radio band of the DAS to an output ofthe listening module.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detaileddescription which follows. It is to be understood that both theforegoing general description and the following detailed description aremerely exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview or frameworkto understand the nature and character of the claims.

The drawings are incorporated into and constitute a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s), andtogether with the description serve to explain principles and operationof the various embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic views of an exemplary optical fiber-baseddistributed antenna system (DAS) according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic view of a DAS including an associatedsystem for monitoring non-supported wireless spectrum within a coveragearea of the DAS, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic view of a listening unit connected to aremote unit of a DAS having a listening module for monitoringnon-supported wireless spectrum and an associated remote unit of the DASof FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart diagram of an exemplary method of operation of thelistening module connected to a remote unit of the DAS for monitoringnon-supported wireless spectrum of FIG. 2, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram of a method for operating a monitoringmodule of the DAS of FIG. 2, according to an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a general schematic view of an exemplary DAS buildinginstallation including the system for monitoring non-supported wirelessspectrum of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a general schematic view of an exemplary DAS configured todistribute digital and/or analog signals within a coverage area of theDAS, and which also includes an associated system for monitoringnon-supported wireless spectrum in coverage areas of the DAS accordingto an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram view of a generalized representation of anexemplary computer system that can be included in or interface with anyof the systems for monitoring non-supported wireless spectrum withincoverage areas of a DAS.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to monitoring non-supportedwireless spectrum within coverage areas of a distributed antenna system(DAS). In one embodiment, a listening module connected to a remote unitof the DAS is configured to pass received non-supported wirelessfrequencies different from supported frequencies of the DAS to an outputof the listening module. In the manner, a centrally located monitoringmodule can use an existing DAS infrastructure to monitor portions of thewireless spectrum outside the supported radio bands of the DAS at one ormore remote locations. Various embodiments will be further clarified bythe following examples.

Before discussing monitoring non-supported wireless spectrum inconnection with coverage areas of DASs starting at FIG. 2, FIGS. 1A and1B are examples of DASs that do not include support for monitoringnon-supported wireless spectrum, but that can be configured to providesupport for monitoring non-supported wireless spectrum in connectionwith coverage areas of a DAS, including according to the embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a DAS. In thisembodiment, the system is an optical fiber-based DAS 10. Theoptical-fiber based DAS 10 is configured to create one or more antennacoverage areas for establishing communications with wireless clientdevices located in the radio frequency (RF) range of the antennacoverage areas. The DAS 10 provides RF communications services (e.g.,cellular services). In this embodiment, the DAS 10 includes HEE in theform of a HEU 12, one or more remote units 14, and an optical fiber 16that optically couples the HEU 12 to the remote unit 14. The HEU 12 isconfigured to receive communications over downlink electrical RFcommunications signals 18D from a source or sources, such as a networkor carrier as examples, and provide such communications to the remoteunit 14. The HEU 12 is also configured to return communications receivedfrom the remote unit 14, via uplink electrical RF communications signals18U, back to the source or sources. The optical fiber 16 includes atleast one downlink optical fiber 16D to carry signals communicated fromthe HEU 12 to the remote unit 14 and at least one uplink optical fiber16U to carry signals communicated from the remote unit 14 back to theHEU 12. One downlink optical fiber 16D and one uplink optical fiber 16Ucould be provided to support multiple channels, each usingwavelength-division multiplexing (WDM), as discussed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/892,424, entitled “Providing Digital DataServices in Optical Fiber-based Distributed Radio Frequency (RF)Communications Systems, And Related Components and Methods,”incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Other options for WDMand frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) are also disclosed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/688,448, any of which can be employed inany of the embodiments disclosed herein.

The DAS 10 has an antenna coverage area 20 that can be substantiallycentered about the remote unit 14. The remote unit 14 is configured toreceive downlink optical RF communications signals 22D from the HEU 12and transmit the content downlink optical RF communications signals 22Dwirelessly within the coverage area 20. The HEU 12 is adapted to performor to facilitate any one of a number of wireless applications, includingbut not limited to Radio-over-Fiber (RoF), radio frequencyidentification (RFID), wireless local-area network (WLAN) communication,public safety, cellular, telemetry, and other mobile or fixed services.Shown within the antenna coverage area 20 is a client device 24 in theform of a mobile device as an example, which may be a cellular telephoneas an example. The client device 24 can be any device that is capable ofreceiving RF communication signals. The client device 24 includes anantenna 26 (e.g., a wireless card) adapted to receive and/or sendelectromagnetic RF communications signals. In a particular exemplaryembodiment, this includes providing WLAN signal distribution asspecified in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) 802.11 standard, i.e., in the frequency range from 2.4 to 2.5GigaHertz (GHz) and from 5.0 to 6.0 GHz. Any other electrical RFcommunications signal frequencies are possible.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1A, to communicate the electrical RFcommunications signals over the downlink optical fiber 16D to the remoteunit 14, to in turn be communicated to the client device 24 in theantenna coverage area 20 formed by the remote unit 14, the HEU 12includes an electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter 28. The E/O converter28 converts the downlink electrical RF communications signals 18D todownlink optical RF communications signals 22D to be communicated overthe downlink optical fiber 16D. The remote unit 14 includes anoptical-to-electrical (O/E) converter 30 to convert received downlinkoptical RF communications signals 22D back to electrical RFcommunications signals to be communicated wirelessly through an antenna32 of the remote unit 14 to client devices 24 located in the antennacoverage area 20.

Similarly, the antenna 32 is also configured to receive wireless RFcommunications from client devices 24 in the antenna coverage area 20.In this regard, the antenna 32 receives wireless RF communications fromclient devices 24 and communicates electrical RF communications signalsrepresenting the wireless RF communications to an E/O converter 34 inthe remote unit 14. The E/O converter 34 converts the electrical RFcommunications signals into uplink optical RF communications signals 22Uto be communicated over the uplink optical fiber 16U. The E/O converter34 and the O/E converter 30 constitute a “converter pair,” asillustrated in FIG. 1A. In an exemplary embodiment, the E/O converter 28includes a laser suitable for delivering sufficient dynamic range forthe RoF applications described herein, and optionally includes a laserdriver/amplifier electrically coupled to the laser. Examples of suitablelasers for the E/O converter 28 include, but are not limited to, laserdiodes, distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, Fabry-Perot (FP) lasers, andvertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs).

An O/E converter 36 provided in the HEU 12 converts the uplink opticalRF communications signals 22U into uplink electrical RF communicationssignals, which can then be communicated as uplink electrical RFcommunications signals 18U back to a network or other source. In anexemplary embodiment, the O/E converter 36 is a photodetector, or aphotodetector electrically coupled to a linear amplifier. The E/Oconverter 28 and the O/E converter 36 also constitute a “converterpair,” as illustrated in FIG. 1A. The HEU 12 in this embodiment is onlyconfigured to receive supported uplink RF communications signals, i.e.,uplink RF communications signals in supported radio bands. As usedherein, the terms “supported wireless spectrum,” “supported wirelessfrequency(s),” and/or “supported radio band(s)” refer to a frequency orgroup of frequencies corresponding to one or more active wirelessservices of a DAS, for example, a radio band used by a cellularcommunications provider. The terms “non-supported wireless spectrum,”“non-supported wireless frequency(s),” and/or “non-supported radioband(s)” conversely refer to a frequency or group of frequencies that donot correspond to the one or more active wireless services of the DAS.

FIG. 1B provides further exemplary illustration of how an opticalfiber-based DAS 10 can be deployed indoors. FIG. 1B is a partiallyschematic cut-away diagram of a building infrastructure 38 employing anoptical fiber-based DAS. The system may be the optical fiber-based DAS10 of FIG. 1A. The building infrastructure 38 generally represents anytype of building in which the optical fiber-based DAS 10 can bedeployed. As previously discussed with regard to FIG. 1A, the opticalfiber-based DAS 10 incorporates the HEU 12 to provide various types ofcommunication services to coverage areas within the buildinginfrastructure 38, as an example. For example, as discussed in moredetail below, the optical fiber-based DAS 10 in this embodiment isconfigured to receive wireless RF communications signals and convert theRF communications signals into RoF signals to be communicated over theoptical fiber 16 to multiple remote units 14. The optical fiber-basedDAS 10 in this embodiment can be, for example, an indoor distributedantenna system (IDAS) to provide wireless service inside the buildinginfrastructure 38. These wireless signals can include, but are notlimited to, cellular service, wireless services such as RFID tracking,Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), local area network (LAN), WLAN, andcombinations thereof, as examples.

However, the DAS 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B only transmits frequenciescorresponding to the uplink optical RF communications signals 22U backto the HEU 12. Thus, the DAS 10 of FIGS. 1A-1B has no spectrummonitoring capability for non-supported wireless frequencies, such asfrequencies associated with third party and/or potential add-onservices, as well as potential interference sources. In addition, thesenon-supported wireless frequencies may be present in different amountsthroughout the building infrastructure 38. For example, a third partywireless service may have strong coverage at the perimeter of thebuilding infrastructure 38 but may have little or no coverage in theinterior of the building infrastructure 38. Likewise, wirelessinterference may vary at different locations throughout the buildinginfrastructure 38. Thus, it may therefore be advantageous to useexisting installed infrastructure of a DAS, such as DAS 10, to monitornon-supported wireless spectrum from a central location, such as a HEU12 of DAS 10, to more effectively monitor a building infrastructure orother environment.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1B, the building infrastructure 38 inthis embodiment includes a first (ground) floor 40, a second floor 42,and a third floor 44. The floors 40, 42, 44 are serviced by the HEU 12through a main distribution frame 46 to provide antenna coverage areas48 in the building infrastructure 38. Only the ceilings of the floors40, 42, 44 are shown in FIG. 1B for simplicity of illustration. In theexemplary embodiment, a main cable 50 has a number of different sectionsthat facilitate the placement of a large number of remote units 14 inthe building infrastructure 38. Each remote unit 14 in turn services itsown coverage area in the antenna coverage areas 48. The main cable 50can include, for example, a riser cable 52 that carries all of thedownlink and uplink optical fibers 16D, 16U to and from the HEU 12. Theriser cable 52 may be routed through an interconnect unit (ICU) 54 toone or more optical fiber cables 56. The ICU 54 may also be configuredto provide power to the remote units 14 via an electrical power lineprovided inside an array cable 58, or tail cable or home-run tethercable as other examples, and distributed with the downlink and uplinkoptical fibers 16D, 16U to the remote units 14. The main cable 50 caninclude one or more multi-cable (MC) connectors adapted to connectselect downlink and uplink optical fibers 16D, 16U, along with anelectrical power line, to a number of optical fiber cables 56.

The main cable 50 enables the multiple optical fiber cables 56 to bedistributed throughout the building infrastructure 38 (e.g., fixed tothe ceilings or other support surfaces of each floor 40, 42, 44) toprovide the antenna coverage areas 48 for the first, second and thirdfloors 40, 42 and 44. In an exemplary embodiment, the HEU 12 is locatedwithin the building infrastructure 38 (e.g., in a closet or controlroom), while in another exemplary embodiment, the HEU 12 may be locatedoutside of the building infrastructure 38 at a remote location. A basetransceiver station (BTS) 60, which may be provided by a second partysuch as a cellular service provider, is connected to the HEU 12, and canbe co-located or located remotely from the HEU 12. A BTS is any stationor source that provides an input signal to the HEU 12 and can receive areturn signal from the HEU 12. In a typical cellular system, forexample, a plurality of BTSs are deployed at a plurality of remotelocations to provide wireless telephone coverage. Each BTS serves acorresponding cell and when a mobile station enters the cell, the BTScommunicates with the mobile station. Each BTS can include at least oneradio transceiver for enabling communication with one or more subscriberunits operating within the associated cell. Alternatively, radio inputcould be provided by a repeater or picocell as other examples.

The optical fiber-based DAS 10 in FIGS. 1A and 1B described aboveprovides point-to-point communications between the HEU 12 and the remoteunits 14. Each remote unit 14 communicates with the HEU 12 over adistinct downlink and uplink optical fiber pair 16D/16U to provide thepoint-to-point communications. Whenever a remote unit 14 is installed inthe optical fiber-based DAS 10, the remote unit 14 is connected to adistinct downlink and uplink optical fiber pair connected to the HEU 12.The downlink and uplink optical fibers 16D/16U may be provided in theoptical fiber 16. Multiple downlink and uplink optical fiber pairs16D/16U can be provided in a fiber optic cable to service multipleremote units 14 from a common fiber optic cable. For example, withreference to FIG. 1B, remote units 14 installed on a given floor 40, 42,or 44 may be serviced from the same optical fiber 16, which may havemultiple nodes where distinct downlink and uplink optical fiber pairs16D/16U are connected to a given remote unit 14.

It may be desirable to provide an optical fiber-based DAS that cansupport a wide variety of radio sources. For example, it may be desiredto provide an optical fiber-based DAS that can support various radiotypes and sources, including but not limited to Long Term Evolution(LTE), US Cellular (CELL), Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division MultipleAccess (TDMA), Advanced Wireless Services (AWS), iDEN (e.g., 800MegaHertz (MHz), 900 MHz, and 1.5 GHz), etc. These radios sources canrange from 400 MHz to 2700 MHz as an example. To support a radio source,the HEU must contain lasers that are capable of modulating the radiosignal into optical RF communications signals at the frequency of theradio signal for transmission over optical fiber. Likewise, lasers mustbe provided to convert the optical RF communications signals back intoelectrical RF communications signals at the frequencies of the radioband supported. It is costly to provide different conversion lasers forall possible radio sources that may be desired to be supported by anoptical fiber-based DAS.

As noted above, the DAS 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B has no spectrum monitoringcapability for non-supported wireless frequencies. Thus, it may beadvantageous to use existing installed infrastructure of a DAS, such asDAS 10, to monitor non-supported wireless spectrum from a centrallocation, such as a HEU 12 of DAS 10, to more effectively monitor abuilding infrastructure 38 or other environment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of such a DAS 64 that can supportmonitoring non-supported wireless spectrum within a coverage area of theDAS 64. The DAS 64 includes a HEU 12, a plurality of remote units 14, amonitoring unit 86 connected to HEU 12, at least one listening unit 74connected to one or more remote units 14. Each listening unit 74includes a listening module 76 having a listening path that may includeone or more filters (described in detail below with respect to FIG. 3)configured to pass received non-supported wireless frequencies differentfrom supported frequencies of the DAS 64 to an output of the listeningmodule. The non-supported frequencies are then transmitted to the HEU 12via the DAS 64 infrastructure and routed to the monitoring unit 86. Themonitoring unit 86 includes a monitoring module 88 that receives andprocesses the non-supported wireless frequencies via one or more inputs,thereby monitoring portions of the wireless spectrum outside thesupported radio bands of the DAS 64 at one or more remote locations,such as at one or more remote units 14 of the DAS 64.

The DAS 64 will now be described in detail to illustrate how themonitoring unit 86 and listening unit(s) 74 are able to use theinfrastructure of the DAS 64 to monitor non-supported wirelessfrequencies. In this embodiment, the DAS 64 is an optical fiber-basedDAS comprised of three main components. One or more radio interfacesprovided in the form of radio interface modules (RIMs) 66(1)-66(M) inthis embodiment are provided in HEU 12 to receive and process downlinkelectrical RF communications signals 18D(1)-18D(R) prior to opticalconversion into downlink optical RF communications signals22D(1)-22D(R). The processing of the downlink electrical RFcommunications signals 18D(1)-18D(R) can include any of the processespreviously described above in the HEU 12 in FIG. 2. The notations “1-R”and “1-M” indicate that any number of the referenced component, 1-R and1-M, respectively, may be provided. As will be described in more detailbelow, the HEU 12 in this embodiment is configured to accept a pluralityof RIMs 66(1)-66(M) as modular components that can be easily installedand removed or replaced in the HEU 12. In one embodiment, the HEU 12 isconfigured to support up to four (4) RIMs 66(1)-66(M).

Each RIM 66(1)-66(M) can be designed to support a particular type ofradio source or range of radio sources (i.e., frequencies) to provideflexibility in configuring the HEU 12 and optical fiber-based DAS 64 tosupport the desired radio sources. For example, one RIM 66 may beconfigured to support the Personal Communication Services (PCS) radioband. Another RIM 66 may be configured to support the Long TermEvolution (LTE) 700 MHz radio band. In this example, by inclusion ofthese RIMs 66, the HEU 12 would be configured to support and distributeRF communications signals on both PCS and LTE 700 MHz radio bands. RIMs66 may be provided in the HEU 12 that support any other radio bands andtechnologies desired, including but not limited to PCS, LTE, CELL, GSM,CDMA, CDMA2000, TDMA, AWS, iDEN (e.g., 800 MHz, 900 MHz, and 1.5 GHz),Enhanced Data GSM Environment, (EDGE), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO),1×RTT (i.e., CDMA2000 1× (IS-2000)), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA),3GGP1, 3GGP2, and Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD). More specificexamples include, but are not limited to, radio bands between 400-2700MHz including but not limited to 700 MHz (LTE), 698-716 MHz, 728-757MHz, 776-787 MHz, 806-824 MHz, 824-849 MHz (US Cellular), 851-869 MHz,869-894 MHz (US Cellular), 880-915 MHz (EU R), 925-960 MHz (TTE),1930-1990 MHz (US PCS), 2110-2155 MHz (US AWS), 925-960 MHz (GSM 900),1710-1755 MHz, 1850-1915 MHz, 1805-1880 MHz (GSM 1800), 1920-1995 MHz,and 2110-2170 MHz (GSM 2100).

The downlink electrical RF communications signals 18D(1)-18D(R) areprovided to an optical interface unit (OIU) 68 having a plurality ofoptical interfaces provided in the form of optical interface modules(OIMs) 70(1)-70(N) in this embodiment to convert the downlink electricalRF communications signals 18D(1)-18D(N) into downlink optical RFcommunications signals 22D(1)-22D(R). The notation “1-N” indicates thatany number of the referenced component 1-N may be provided. One downlinkoptical fiber 16D and one uplink optical fiber 16U could be provided tosupport multiple channels each using WDM or FDM.

In this embodiment, the OIMs 70(1)-70(N) are provided in a commonhousing provided for the HEU 12 with the RIMs 66(1)-66(M).Alternatively, the OIMs 70(1)-70(N) could be located in separately fromthe RIMs 66(1)-66(M). The OIMs 70 may be configured to provide one ormore optical interface components (OICs) that contain O/E and E/Oconverters, as will be described in more detail below. The OIMs 70support the radio bands that can be provided by the RIMs 66, includingthe examples previously described above. Thus, in this embodiment, theOIMs 70 may support a radio band range from 400 MHz to 2700 MHz, as anexample, so providing different types or models of OIMs 70 for narrowerradio bands to support possibilities for different radio band supportedRIMs 66 provided in the HEU 12 is not required. Further, as an example,the OIMs 70 may be optimized for sub-bands within the 400 MHz to 2700MHz frequency range, such as 400-700 MHz, 700 MHz-1 GHz, 1 GHz-1.6 GHz,and 1.6 GHz-2.7 GHz, as examples.

The OIMs 70(1)-70(N) each include E/O converters to convert the downlinkelectrical RF communications signals 18D(1)-18D(R) to downlink opticalRF communications signals 22D(1)-22D(R). The downlink optical RFcommunications signals 22D(1)-22D(R) are communicated over downlinkoptical fiber(s) 16D to a plurality of remote units 14(1)-14(P). Thenotation “1-P” indicates that any number of the referenced component 1-Pmay be provided. O-E converters provided in the remote units 14(1)-14(P)convert the downlink optical RF communications signals 22D(1)-22D(R)back into downlink electrical RF communications signals 18D(1)-18D(R),which are provided over links 72(1)-72(P) coupled to antennas32(1)-32(P) in the remote units 14(1)-14(P) to client devices in thereception range of the antennas 32(1)-32(P).

In this embodiment, the listening unit 74 includes a listening module 76having a link 78 to a dedicated antenna 80. The listening unit 74 inthis example is part of a remote expansion unit (RXU) 81 that is aseparate unit from the remote unit 14. In other embodiments, thelistening unit 74 may be a separate unit from both the remote unit 14and RXU 81. In another example, the listening module 76 may be anintegrated component or a plug-in component of the remote unit 14. Theantenna 80 may be a broadband or a narrowband antenna and is capable ofreceiving one or more non-supported wireless frequencies. The listeningunit 74 is connected to the remote unit(s) 14 by a link 82 thattransmits a monitor signal 84 containing the non-supported wirelessfrequencies to the remote unit(s) 14 where they can be combined with oneor more of the uplink optical RF communications signals 22U fortransmission back to the HEU 12. The monitoring module 88 of themonitoring unit 86 can then receive the monitor signal 84 from a link 90from the RIM(s) 66 and/or a link 92 from the OIU 68. The monitoring unit86 in this example is a separate unit from the HEU 12, and may be partof another device or component connected to the HEU 12. In anotherexample, the monitoring module 88 may be an integrated component or aplug-in component of the HEU 12. In this embodiment, the link 90 to theRIM(s) 66 is configured to transmit narrowband signals corresponding towireless frequencies near the supported radio band of the RIM(s) 66.Conversely, the link 92 to the OIU 68 in this embodiment is configuredto transmit broadband signals corresponding to a large range ofnon-supported wireless frequencies and can also be used for narrow bandmonitoring, similar to link 90, as well. It should be understood thatalternative methods of routing, such employing an RF matrix for routingsignals between multiple links to a single monitoring unit, arecontemplated as well.

In this embodiment, the listening module 76 can also be connected via alink 94 to one or more of the antennas 32(1)-32(P) connected to theremote units 14(1)-14(P). As will be discussed in detail below withrespect to FIG. 3, the listening module can include different modes thatemploy one or more of the different antennas 32, 80. These and otherfunctions can be controlled via a control link 96. In this embodiment, acontrol signal, received at the HEU 12 via another control link 97, isembedded within one or more downlink optical RF communications signals22D and delivered to the listening module 76 from the remote unit(s) 14via the control link 96. In other embodiments, a separate control signalmay be employed.

In some embodiments, the above described components may have a widerange of capabilities. For example, the listening module 76 may becapable of providing spectrum monitoring over a wide range of RFfrequencies, e.g., 10 MHz-6 GHz. In another example, the listeningmodule 76 and/or monitoring module 88 may be self-optimized and/orself-configurable, thereby permitting advanced integration andinteroperability with small cells and other radio sources that may beconnected to a DAS.

To illustrate the functionality and operation of the listening module76, the internal components of the listening unit 74 and an exemplaryremote unit 14 will be described. In this regard, FIG. 3 illustrates adetailed schematic view of the listening unit 74 and associated remoteunit 14 of the DAS 64 of FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the remote unit 14includes a broadband antenna 32 connected to a multiplexer/demultiplexer98 which sends the received signal to one or more uplink frequency bandpaths 99. In this embodiment, the remote unit 14 includes two uplinkfrequency band paths 99(1)-99(2), but more or fewer uplink frequencyband paths 99 are possible as well. As will be described in greaterdetail below, each uplink frequency band path 99 filters and passes apredetermined supported upload frequency band to a frequencymux/combiner 100, which combines the outputs of the uplink frequencyband paths 99 into a combined signal and outputs one or more uplinkelectrical RF communications signals 18U. E/O converter 34(1) convertsthe uplink electrical RF communications signal 18U to an optical signalfor transmission to the HEU 12 (not shown).

Meanwhile, the listening module 76 of the listening unit 74 forms aspectrum monitoring path for monitoring non-supported wirelessfrequencies. As discussed above, the listening module 76 receives EMradiation via the antenna 80 (or, alternatively, via a broadband antenna32) and outputs the monitor signal 84 into an E/O converter 34(2), whichconverts the monitor signal 84 into an optical signal. The outputs ofboth E/O converters 34(1) and 34(2) are received by a wave divisionmultiplexer 102, and are multiplexed into one or more uplink optical RFcommunications signals 22U.

In this manner, the monitor signal 84 may be carried over the existinginfrastructure of a DAS, such as DAS 64, and delivered to a centrallylocated monitoring module, such as monitoring module 88. One advantageof this arrangement is that a number of third party and othernon-supported wireless components, such as small-cell or femtocellcomponents (not shown), can be installed in a central location, such asin proximity to HEU 12. Some of these components employ a listening modeto gather information about the transmission environment as part oftheir initialization and configuration process. Therefore, thisarrangement permits these components to receive accurate informationabout the transmission environment, i.e., the remote unit 14 locations,while remaining physically located proximate to the HEU 12. As discussedabove, in addition to avoiding the need to run parallel infrastructureto remotely monitor wireless spectrum throughout an installation,embodiments described herein are also useful in shared spectrumenvironments and other environments where efficient spectrum utilizationis desired.

The internal components of the uplink frequency band paths 99(1) and99(2) of the remote unit 14 and the spectrum monitoring path of thelistening module 76 are analogous to each other in many respects. Inthis example, each uplink frequency band path 99 includes alimiter/detector 104 that receives a signal output from multiplexer 98.A parallel low noise amplifier 106 and filter 108 next pass the signalthrough a variable gain amplifier 110 and into filter 112. Each filter112 is tuned to pass a specific supported frequency band through thevariable attenuator 118 to gain amplifier 120 and outputs the signal tofrequency mux/combiner 100, thereby preventing non-supported frequenciesfrom being passed to the output of the uplink frequency band path 99.

In a similar arrangement, the spectrum monitoring path, also referred toas a listening path, of the listening module 76 includes alimiter/detector 122 that receives a signal from one of antenna 80 orantenna 32. In this example, a selectable low noise amplifier 124 andoptional attenuator 126 next pass the signal through a variable gainamplifier 128 and into a selectable filter 130 and/or mixer 132. Themixer 132 permits selective tuning of the passed frequencies, while thefilter 130 permits passing a fixed frequency or frequencies. The filter130 and mixer 132 can also be bypassed entirely, thereby passing theentire range of frequencies received by antenna 80 and/or antenna 32.The passed wireless frequencies are next passed through the variableattenuator 134 to gain amplifier 136 and analog/digital converter 138,finally outputting the signal to E/O converter 34(2), likewisepreventing non-tuned wireless frequencies, which may include bothsupported and non-supported radio bands, from being passed to the outputof the uplink frequency band path. In an alternative embodiment, themixer 132 and other components permitting selectable tuning can beomitted, such that the spectrum monitoring path is tuned to a fixedfrequency band. It should also be understood that the wave divisionmultiplexer 102 and analog/digital converter 138 are also optional andare not required for a DAS that does not include digital signaldistribution. In an alternative, analog-only embodiment, for example,the output signal from gain amplifier 136 can be combined directly withthe output of mux/combiner 100 and output to a single E/O converter34(1).

In this example, the listening module has a number of different antennamodes. In a disabled mode, an antenna switch 144 is set to fifty ohm(50Ω) termination (or terminated) mode 146, thereby turning off thelistening module 76. In first broadband listening mode, the switch 144connects the listening module 76 to antenna 80, thereby permittingreception of all frequencies capable of being received by antenna 80. Ina second listening mode, the switch 144 connects the listening module 76to one or more of the broadband antennas 32 of the remote unit(s) 14,thereby permitting reception of all frequencies capable of beingreceived by broadband antenna(s) 32, for example, by bypassing thefilter 130 and/or mixer 132, or by omitting the filter 130 and mixer 132entirely.

These components allow for configurable spectrum bandwidth support andsignal level sensitivity. For example, the listening module 76 of FIG. 3may be configured for broad band spectrum monitoring (e.g., 10 MHz-6GHz, etc.), narrow band spectrum monitoring (e.g., 450 MHz, 700 MHz, 850MHz, 1900 MHz, etc.), or a combination of the two. Likewise, thelistening module of FIG. 4 may also be configured to operate in a highlevel sensitivity mode employing amplification to optimize formonitoring weak signals, a low level sensitivity mode employingattenuation to optimize for monitoring strong signals, or a mixed modeemploying a combination of the two. The various functions of thelistening module may be controlled manually, automatically or remotely,for example via one or more control links 96 connected to the remoteunits 14. In the same manner, referring back to FIG. 2, the RIM(s) 66and/or OIU 68 can also include complementary components (not shown) fordemuxing, demultiplexing, or otherwise extracting the monitor signal 84from the uplink optical RF communications signal 22U.

An exemplary method of operation of the listening module 76 of FIGS. 2and 3 are now described. In this regard, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of anexemplary method 150 of monitoring non-supported wireless spectrumwithin a coverage area of a DAS. The method 150 includes receiving, atan antenna, one or more EM signals (block 152). For example, receivingEM signals could be performed by the antenna 80 of FIG. 3. The method150 further includes receiving, at a listening module, such as listeningmodule 76, the one or more EM signals from the antenna (block 154). Themethod 150 further comprises filtering the one or more EM signals (block156) to pass a non-supported radio band different than a supported radioband of the DAS to an output of the listening module. In one example,the filtering could be performed by filter 130 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 158 of operating amonitoring module according to another embodiment. The method 158includes directing, at a monitoring module, such as monitoring module 88of FIG. 2, a listening module, such as the listening module 76, toreceive EM signals corresponding to a non-supported radio band differentthan a supported radio band of the DAS (block 160). The method 158further includes receiving the EM signals corresponding to thenon-supported radio bands at the monitoring module via theinfrastructure of a DAS, such as DAS 64 (block 162). In one example, theinfrastructure of the DAS that delivers the EM signals may be one ormore OIM 70 or RIM 66 of the DAS 64 of FIG. 2. The method 158 furtherincludes processing, interpreting or otherwise utilizing the EM signalscorresponding to the non-supported radio bands by the monitoring module(block 164).

In this manner, the above described methods can monitor non-supportedwireless spectrum throughout an installation, such as the buildinginfrastructure 38 of FIG. 1B, using the installed DAS infrastructure. Inthis regard, FIG. 6 illustrates the building infrastructure 38 of FIG.1B having the DAS 64 and additional associated spectrum monitoringcomponents of FIGS. 2 and 3. In this example, monitoring unit 86 isconnected to HEU 12, and a number of remote units 14 on different floorsand in different locations are connected to respective listening units74. In this manner, the monitoring unit 86 is able to monitornon-supported wireless spectrum in a variety of different locationswithin a building infrastructure 38 using the existing infrastructure ofthe DAS 64.

As discussed above, the embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3, and 6 relate tospectrum monitoring using an RF-based DAS 64. However, spectrummonitoring in accordance with the present disclosure may be employedusing DASs that include digital signal distribution as well. In thisregard, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an alternative DAS 166 thatincludes the a DAS 64′ similar to DAS 64 in FIG. 3 in combination with awireless local access network (WLAN) system 168 for providing digitaldata services. In this regard, the DAS 166 includes the HEU 12previously described above with regard to FIG. 2.

The HEU 12 is configured to receive the downlink electrical RFcommunications signals 18D through downlink interfaces 170 from one ormore base stations 172(1)-172(N), wherein N can be any number. The HEU12 can be configured receive RF communications services from multiplebase stations 172(1)-172(N) to support multiple RF radio bands in theDAS 166. The HEU 12 is also configured to provide the downlink opticalRF communication signals 22D to the remote units 14(1)-14(N) and receivethe uplink optical RF communications signals 22U from remote units14(1)-14(N) over a communications medium. M number of remote units 14signifies that any number, M number, of remote units 14 could becommunicatively coupled to the HEU 12, as desired. Similar to theembodiments of FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the DAS 166 also includes additionalassociated spectrum monitoring components described in detail withrespect to FIGS. 2 and 3. In this example, monitoring unit 86 isconnected to HEU 12, and a number of remote units 14 are connected torespective listening units 74. In this manner, the monitoring unit 86 isable to monitor non-supported wireless spectrum in a variety ofdifferent locations using the existing infrastructure of the DAS 64.

With continuing reference to FIG. 7, a digital data switch 174 may alsobe provided in the WLAN system 168. The digital data switch 174 may beprovided in the WLAN system 176 for providing digital data signals, suchas for WLAN services for example, to remote units 176(1)-176(P)configured to support digital data services, wherein P signifies thatany number of the remote units 176 may be provided and supported by theWLAN system 168. Similar to the remote units 14 above, a number ofremote units 176 in this embodiment are also connected to respectivelistening units 74. In this manner, the monitoring unit 86 is able tomonitor non-supported wireless spectrum at the locations of digitallybased remote units 176 as well.

The digital data switch 174 may be coupled to a network 178, such as theInternet. Downlink digital data signals 180D from the network 178 can beprovided to the digital data switch 174. The downlink digital datasignals 180D can then be provided to the remote units 176(1)-176(P)through slave central units 182(1)-182(Q), wherein Q can be any numberdesired. The digital data switch 174 can also receive uplink digitaldata signals 180U from the remote units 176(1)-176(P) to be providedback to the network 178. The slave central units 182(1)-182(Q) alsoreceive the downlink optical RF communications signals 22D and provideuplink optical RF communications signals 22U from the remote units176(1)-176(P) to the HEU 12 in this embodiment. In this regard, theremote units 176(1)-176(P), by being communicatively coupled to a slavecentral unit 182(1) that supports both the RF communications servicesand the digital data services, is included in both the distributedantenna system 64′ and the WLAN system 168 to support RF communicationservices and digital data services, respectively, with client devices184(1)-184(P). For example, such remote unit 176 may be configured tocommunicate wirelessly with the WLAN user equipment (e.g., a laptop) andWide Area Wireless service user equipment (e.g., a cellular phone).

A number of different digital data devices may also be included, such asWLAN access points, femtocells, gateways, baseband units (BBU), remoteradio heads (RRH), and wired and wireless servers. Digital data servicesmay also be provided via connected desktop computers, hubs, switches,and other devices. Any of these digital data devices may includehardware and/or software for remotely monitoring non-supported spectrumvia the DAS.

In addition, any of the DASs and other components disclosed herein,including the monitoring unit 86, monitoring module 88, listening unit74, and/or listening module 76 of FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7, can include acomputer system. In this regard, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagramrepresentation of additional detail regarding an exemplary form of anexemplary computer system 186 that is adapted to execute instructions.In this regard, the computer system 186 includes a set of instructionsfor causing the DAS component(s) to provide its designed functionality.The DAS component(s) may be connected (e.g., networked) to othermachines in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. The DAScomponent(s) may operate in a client-server network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.While only a single device is illustrated, the term “device” shall alsobe taken to include any collection of devices that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein. The DAS component(s)may be a circuit or circuits included in an electronic board card, suchas a printed circuit board (PCB) as an example, a server, a personalcomputer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a computing pad, a mobile device, or any other device,and may represent, for example, a server or a user's computer. Theexemplary computer system 184 in this embodiment includes a processingdevice or processor 188, a main memory 190 (e.g., read-only memory(ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such assynchronous DRAM (SDRAM), etc.), and a static memory 192 (e.g., flashmemory, static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), which may communicatewith each other via a data bus 194. Alternatively, the processing device188 may be connected to the main memory 190 and/or static memory 192directly or via some other connectivity means. The processing device 188may be a controller, and the main memory 190 or static memory 192 may beany type of memory, each of which can be included in the monitoringunit, monitoring module #, listening unit #, and/or listening module #of FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7, for example.

The processing device 188 represents one or more general-purposeprocessing devices such as a microprocessor, central processing unit, orthe like. More particularly, the processing device 188 may be a complexinstruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instructionset computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW)microprocessor, a processor implementing other instruction sets, orprocessors implementing a combination of instruction sets. Theprocessing device 188 is configured to execute processing logic ininstructions 196 (located in the processing device 188 and/or the mainmemory 190) for performing the operations and steps discussed herein.

The computer system 186 may further include a network interface device198. The computer system 186 also may or may not include an input 200 toreceive input and selections to be communicated to the computer system186 when executing instructions. The computer system 186 also may or maynot include an output 202, including but not limited to a display, avideo display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathoderay tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device (e.g., a keyboard), and/ora cursor control device (e.g., a mouse).

The computer system 186 may or may not include a data storage device 204that includes instructions 206 stored in a computer-readable medium 208.The instructions 206 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 190 and/or within the processing device 188during execution thereof by the computer system 186, the main memory 190and the processing device 188 also constituting the computer-readablemedium 208. The instructions 196, 206 may further be transmitted orreceived over a network 178 via the network interface device 198.

While the computer-readable medium 208 is shown in an exemplaryembodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium”should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any mediumthat is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructionsfor execution by the processing device and that cause the processingdevice to perform any one or more of the methodologies of theembodiments disclosed herein. The term “computer-readable medium” shallaccordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-statememories, optical and magnetic medium, and carrier wave signals.

The embodiments disclosed herein include various steps that may beperformed by hardware components or may be embodied inmachine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause ageneral-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with theinstructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, the steps may beperformed by a combination of hardware and software.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as a computer programproduct, or software, that may include a machine-readable medium (orcomputer-readable medium) having stored thereon instructions, which maybe used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) toperform a process according to the embodiments disclosed herein. Amachine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing ortransmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). For example, a machine-readable medium includes amachine-readable storage medium (e.g., read only memory (“ROM”), randomaccess memory (“RAM”), magnetic disk storage medium, optical storagemedium, flash memory devices, etc.).

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field ProgrammableGate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A controllermay be a processor. A processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in hardware and ininstructions that are stored in hardware, and may reside, for example,in Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM),Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically ErasableProgrammable ROM (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable medium known in the art.An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that theprocessor can read information from, and write information to, thestorage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integralto the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in anASIC. The ASIC may reside in a remote station. In the alternative, theprocessor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in aremote station, base station, or server.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that anymethod set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps beperformed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim doesnot actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is nototherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that thesteps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way intended thatany particular order be inferred.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Since modifications combinations,sub-combinations and variations of the disclosed embodimentsincorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur topersons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to includeeverything within the scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of monitoring non-supported wirelessspectra within a coverage area of an optical fiber-based communicationssystem, the method comprising: receiving, at at least one antenna, oneor more electromagnetic signals; receiving, at a listening moduleconnected to at least one of a plurality of remote units, the one ormore electromagnetic signals from the at least one antenna; passing theone or more electromagnetic signals in a non-supported radio banddifferent than a supported radio band of the communications system to anoutput of the listening module; and transmitting the non-supported radioband from the output of the listening module over an opticalcommunications medium of the communications system, wherein: thelistening module comprises at least one filter configured to pass thenon-supported radio band; and each remote unit comprises at least oneoptical-to-electrical converter and at least one electrical-to-opticalconverter.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: tuning thenon-supported radio band; and attenuating the non-supported radio band.3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, at at least onemonitoring module of the communications system, the non-supported radioband.
 4. A method of monitoring non-supported wireless spectra within acoverage area of an optical fiber-based communications system, themethod comprising: receiving, at a plurality of antennas, one or moreelectromagnetic signals; receiving, at a listening module connected toat least one remote unit, the one or more electromagnetic signals fromat least one of the plurality of antennas, the listening modulecomprising at least one filter; passing the one or more electromagneticsignals in a non-supported radio band different than a supported radioband of the communications system to an output of the listening module;transmitting the non-supported radio band from the output of thelistening module over an optical communications medium of thecommunications system; and receiving the non-supported band at at leastone monitoring module.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprisingtuning the non-supported radio band.
 6. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising: passing the non-supported radio band through ananalog/digital converter in the listening module; and attenuating thenon-supported radio band.
 7. A method of monitoring non-supportedwireless spectra within a coverage area of an optical fiber-basedcommunications system, the method comprising: receiving, at at least oneantenna, one or more electromagnetic signals; receiving, at a listeningmodule connected to at least one remote unit of the communicationssystem, the one or more electromagnetic signals from at the at least oneantenna, the listening module comprising at least one filter; filteringthe one or more electronic signals in a non-supported radio banddifferent than a supported radio band; passing the non-supported radioband to an output of the listening module; transmitting thenon-supported radio band from the output of the listening module over anoptical communications medium of the communications system; andreceiving the non-supported band at at least one monitoring module. 8.The method of claim 7, further comprising passing the non-supportedradio band through an analog/digital converter, wherein each remote unitcomprises at least one optical-to-electrical converter and at least oneelectrical-to-optical converter, and wherein the optical communicationsmedium comprises a plurality of optical fiber cables.
 9. A method ofmonitoring non-supported wireless spectra within a coverage area of anoptical fiber-based communications system having a fiber opticinfrastructure including a plurality of optical cables, the methodcomprising: receiving, at a plurality of antennas, a plurality ofelectromagnetic signals; receiving, at a listening module connected toat least one of a plurality of remote units, the plurality ofelectromagnetic signals from at least one of the plurality of antennas;filtering the plurality of electromagnetic signals in a non-supportedradio band different than a supported radio band of the system; andpassing the plurality of electromagnetic signals in the non-supportedradio band to an output of the listening module.
 10. The method of claim9, further comprising passing the non-supported radio band through ananalog/digital converter, wherein each remote unit comprises at leastone optical-to-electrical converter and at least oneelectrical-to-optical converter, and wherein the fiber opticinfrastructure comprises a plurality of optical fiber cables.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising receiving, at at least onemonitoring module connected to head-end equipment of the communicationssystem, the non-supported radio band via the fiber optic infrastructure,wherein the plurality of remote units are distributed throughout abuilding infrastructure having a plurality of floors such that each ofthe plurality of floors has at least one remote unit.
 12. A method ofmonitoring non-supported wireless spectra within a coverage area of anoptical fiber-based communications system, the method comprising:receiving, at a plurality of antennas, one or more electromagneticsignals; receiving, at a listening module connected to at least one of aplurality of remote units distributed over multiple floors of a buildinginfrastructure, the one or more electromagnetic signals from at leastone of the plurality of antennas, the listening module comprising atleast one filter; passing the one or more electromagnetic signals in anon-supported radio band different than a supported radio band of thecommunications system to an output of the listening module; transmittingthe non-supported radio band from the output of the listening moduleover an optical communications medium of the communications system; andreceiving the non-supported band at at least one monitoring module. 13.The method of claim 12, further comprising tuning the non-supportedradio band.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: passing thenon-supported radio band through an analog/digital converter in thelistening module; and attenuating the non-supported radio band.
 15. Amethod of monitoring non-supported wireless spectra within a coveragearea of an optical fiber-based communications system, the methodcomprising: receiving, at a plurality of antennas, one or moreelectromagnetic signals; receiving, at a listening module, the one ormore electromagnetic signals from at least one of the plurality ofantennas, the listening module comprising at least one filter; passingthe non-supported radio band through an analog/digital converter in thelistening module; attenuating the non-supported radio band; passing theone or more electromagnetic signals in a non-supported radio band to anoutput of the listening module; transmitting the non-supported radioband from the output of the listening module; and receiving thenon-supported band at at least one monitoring module.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising tuning the non-supported radio band.